aggression

Question 1

what is aggression

Answer 1

any physical or non-physical behaviour that is threatening or intends to harm humans or objects

Question 2

what is the hypothalamus involved in

Answer 2

1. Activating the sympathetic nervous system (produces aggressive behaviour).
2. Controlling fight of flight response. (breath rate ↑, muscle tension ↑, heart rate ↑, sweating ↑, pupil size ↑)

Question 3

what is the role of the amygdala

Answer 3

Determines emotional meaning of events in the environment, decides whether an event is good or bad

Question 4

what are the 3 components of the limbic system

Answer 4

• hippocampus
• amygdala
  -hypothalamus

Question 5

what is the role of the hippocampus

Answer 5

sends info stored in out LT memory to amygdala

Question 6

if amygdala detects hat events are bad/dangerous what happens

Answer 6

Amygdala sends nerve impulses to the hypothalamus, causing it to produce aggressive behaviour

Question 7

if the frontal cortex is damaged more/less likely to be aggressive +why?

Answer 7

Can’t send electrical signals to inhibit neurons in amygdala therefore signals continue to be sent to hypothalamus, amygdala won’t be inhibited (more likely to be aggressive)

Question 8

what are hormones

Answer 8

Chemical messengers produced and released by endocrine glands into the bloodstream

Question 9

what hormone increases aggression + features of it

Answer 9

testosterone
* produced +released by adrenal +sex glands
* men>women (men more aggressive

Question 10

Given an example of a neurotransmitter that reduces aggressive behaviour

Answer 10

Serotonin
* controls mood+determines how we feel about things
* inhibits neurons in amygdala +sends fewer nerve impulses to hypothalamus

Question 11

what happens when negative electrical charge flows into neurons

Answer 11

neurons are inhibited +less likely to generate nerve impulses

Question 12

Which 2 studies support the role of the amygdala in aggression

Answer 12

+ Summer et al
+ Mpakopoulon

Question 13

what did Summer et al research and find

Answer 13

Conducted a case study looking at a 14-year-old girl with excessive aggression. MRI scan revealed that she had a tumour pressing onto her amygdala, tumour caused more activity in her amygdala =more nerve impulses sent to hypothalamus, aggression↑.

Question 14

what did Mpakopoulon research and find

Answer 14

Conducted a review of 13 studies of patients who suffered with seizures and had undergone an amygdalotomy
Before surgery, patients displayed high levels of aggression+ had excessive activity amygdala
After surgery reduction in aggression by 33% to 100%.

Question 15

Limitation for support of the amygdala